Summary Remarks
The DOE Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan lays out a challenging program for the scientific and engineering staff at the national security laboratories. It represents a major change from the design and testing of weapons to a program in which intelligent surveillance of the stockpile, nonnuclear experiments, and computations form the basis of judgments about the safety and reliability of weapons. There are an analogous set of challenges in the areas of nonproliferation, arms control, and intelligence support. In both situations I agree with the Galvin Task Force that the attraction and retention of skilled people is a top priority.
I believe that the people who will be attracted by this vigorous post-Cold War program will provide the needed scientific and technical vitality. However, this is a demanding effort which requires a long-term commitment by outstanding scientists and engineers. That commitment, in turn, requires the very strong bipartisan support of Congress and the Administration. Accordingly, I urge your strong support of the $3.6 billion FY 1996 budget submission for Defense Programs. It constitutes a leveling-off of the budget (larger than FY 1995 but smaller than FY 1994) after having accommodated large post-Cold-War decreases. It reflects the need for new investments in capabilities and facilities for stewardship and management of the enduring stockpile. I also urge similar support of the program of the Office of Nonproliferation and National Security, with the exploration of mechanisms for broadened federal support from other agencies in this important area.
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